It's documented that Esther was born 1822/23, which would make her age in 1870 47. Also, Wisconsin is not looking good as a POB for Esther, due to this particular record being unlikely, and the fact that Esther often states she was born in England.

On the 1880 Census, there is a Sarah Cole of the right age, born in Wisconsin, and living in Cincinnati with her husband Noah, their 2 children, and Noah's mother.† Sarah's father was listed as born in Wisconsin & her mother was born in England.† Not a perfect match, but maybe.† They are living at 70 Spring St., which is nearby to where Ethel was in 1880.

By Ethel I believe you mean Esther.

Yes, you are right, in 1880 the US Census shows "Mrs Oliver, widow" with sister "Elizabeth Johnson, widow" living at 79 Spring Street, very close to† Sarah Cole in 1880, at 70 Spring Street.

It's also interesting that the doctor attending Sarah giving birth in 1874 is the same doctor attending Esther Oliver in 1876.

If we could find a wedding or death record for Sarah we might be able to determine her mother, but I've tried a bit and came up empty handed.

In 1887, when names of deceased husbands are first included in the WCD with listings of widows, "Ezekiel" and "Alex." (Alexander?) are the only two likely names.† It's a big stretch to link them, considering that the last confirmed listing of Eliza Ann was in the 1880 Census, and before that in the 1878 WCD. But I'll try to search for the marriages/deaths.

I've ordered the Compiled Military Service Files of Nathan B. Oliver and William A. Wentworth. Have also ordered the Social Security card application for Albert Oliver died 1952. I've also ordered military records from Ohio for Nathan and Wisconsin for William.

All that paper should arrive from two weeks to two months.

Also, check this out: I did a simple google search for Nathan B. Oliver and look at what the heck I found:

Have emailed the guy who posted the site and canít wait to hear from him.

Now just as this is getting so exciting and all coming together (knock on wood) I've also committed to a career training and it will be taking up all of my spare time for the next four months. So I will not be able to devote the crazy amount of time that I have had in the last few weeks.

Thank you Genealiza, Shellyesq, Fishweb, and Sandra. This has been quite exciting, and even though Esther Ann Oliver remains an enigma, I'm feeling pretty good that we are on the right path. I could never have come this far this fast without you. Who knows if I could have ever gotten this far without you. How you folks spare the time and find the sources is beyond me, but you are very generous and knowledgeable and a fantastic resource for those of us not so blessed.

I will be sure to let you know what I learn from the documents as soon as I am able.

I hope your purchases are fruitful. The pension files I have of a gr grandfather state the battles and skirmishes with which he was involved, when and how he became disabled, his application for a pension and the subsequent years he had to reapply, and a listing of all of his children with their birth dates--it is quite a treasure trove of information. Hopefully you will be as lucky with Esther's pension applications. Please keep us informed of your progress. And good luck with your new career.

Well, today I received the civil registration of the marriage of Nathan. B. Oliver of Trenton, Wisconsin to Esther Ann Greenway, Sept. 17, 1854. No new information unfortunately, other than the fact that the ceremony was "Religious", or "Religiou..." Can't make out the handwriting. Maddeningly, niether Nathan or Esther indicates their parents' names, despite the blank spaces for indicating such. I wonder if there would be records at whatever church they were married at in Trenton?

Also received some of Nathan B. Oliver's military records, a couple of Muster Rolls, from the state of Wisconsin. Nothing earthshaking here either, though it is interesting to see details of his death by consumption after the Battle of Shiloh.

Another muster repeats most of the information, except that it indicates him as single. Most interesting are the remarks:

"Was engaged in the Battle of Shiloh Apr 6-7/62. Died at division Hospital Pittsburgh Tenn May 21st/62 of consumption".

The issue is still Esther. Is this Esther MY Esther? Doing all this digging on THIS couple, but are they THE couple: Esther Ann, widow Nathan B. of Cincinnati? There are connections, but there are contradictions.

I am now certain that the 1915 death record Esther and the 1854 marriage record Esther are/is? the same person.† I am totally mystified on the huge discrepancies in age show by Esther's last two Census listings and death record, when compared to her 1860 Census record, as well by the birth place discrepancy in the same records.

Nevertheless, I am also fairly certain that Esther's father's last name was Greenway/Greenbaum, and that her mother's maiden name was Esther Swing.

And of course, since Albert Ellsworth Oliver, the son of my gg Grandmother Esther Ann Oliver, was born in 1873, 12 years after Nathan B. Oliver died, I'm fairly certain that I and scores of other descendants of Albert and his siblings Ella, Alice and May have no Oliver blood in their lineage, and I have no hope of ever finding who exactly Albert and siblings were fathered by.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm, talents and hard work.† I could never have arrived at this point without you.† If you're ever in Chicago, PM me and I'd love to treat you to dinner.† You are welcome to pursue any loose ends if you wish, and I'd appreciate it, but as far as I'm concerned, this thread is completed.† Yahoo!

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